Presidential field Newt-e(R)ed

Newt's out, even after absolution from Dobson. Much as I don't like him, he is smart and saw the writing on the bathroom wall.

Kicking them right back in the teeth

With Doc Martens:

Mona

I'm soooo ambivalent about this. The Senate ought not be passing resolutions condemning any group of Americans' political speech. (Ok, I know, maybe a Nazi Bund or something, but I mean in the ordinary course of the political discussion.)

I understand, but disagree. Generally speaking, there are two ways to diffuse a corrupt argumentative standard -- (1) argue that it is unfair/corrupt/dangerous or (2) take it and apply it to the people wielding it.

In our political culture, tactic (1) -- the more noble one -- does not usually work. It comes off as whiny and weak. The only way to destroy these tactics is to demand their equal application, including to the people who invent and disseminate them.

Ultimately, a bad standard applied only to one side is worse than a bad standard applied equally.

The resolution against MoveOn smacks of McCarthyism, and while I think it is helpful to keep Rush's heinous comments in the spotlight, I'm not comfortable about seeing the Senate go wholesale into the business of condemning political pundits and activists. And there are just a few other issues to which they might be better off dedicating their time.

How about if demanding equal application of the Condemnation Standard is the only way to put a stop to it (which is what I think)? Then would you support that? Assume - as I think is true - that there are only two choices:

(1) Republicans keep using formal governmental condemnation as a political weapon, or

(2) Democrats take the same weapon and apply it to Republicans, thereby eliminating the advantage of this pernicious tool, thereby causing it to end.

Which is better? Clearly, you prefer option (3) -- the weapon is never used at all -- but as the MoveOn vote shows, that is not an option in the real world.

-- GlennGreenwald

Gazette spins away at Governor Ritter and the issues

Jeez, it is kind of pathetic that the Gazette tries to spin the issues as Governor Bill Ritter (Democrat) introduces a widely praised business and tax plan.

Here's the Gazette headline: "Voters lukewarm on Ritter agenda"

Here's the poll in .pdf format.

Ritter's approval rating is hovering at 70%. Business leaders are pleased with the plan. Tax rates will be stabilized and costly taxes eliminated. New technology that will bring new jobs is being encouraged.

What's not to like for the Gazette? Ritter's a Democrat, of course.

Phony soldier rundown

I guess this is what Rush "Anal Cyst" Limbaugh was talking about when he said anyone who disagrees with President Bush is a "phony soldier".


Army of Dude: This was taken on a rooftop during a firefight on March 24 in Baqubah. One guy lost a leg up to his knee and another lost a foot in an IED blast that day. Talk about sacrifices! Out of seven Americans on that rooftop, one is going to reenlist! The rest decided to get out to avoid going to Iraq again, despite what Mike from Olympia, Washington said on your show about what real soldiers say, like "they want to be over in Iraq. They understand their sacrifice, and they're willing to sacrifice for their country." All I see is a bunch of phonies!

Raf Noboa: It's one thing for an ordinary American to thank me for my service; I appreciate the wishes. It's another thing entirely for the people I helped elect to office to offer those words, and simply leave it at that. Too many times, that's all we've gotten: "so long, and thanks for all the service!" We can do better--we must do better. We're not asking for much; we're asking that, having laid down our weapons, we receive the care we've so dearly earned.

And then there's this guy......................And the question of why there aren't any pictures of Rush Limbaugh in uniform?

Governor Ritter approval hovering at 70%

Hey, that's the Rocky saying that, and we know how librul they are:

"It's clear that Gov. Ritter is extremely popular and that his numbers are pretty close to some of the highest that we've seen from any governor in this state," said Rick Ridder, a Democratic consultant whose firm, RBI Strategies & Research, polled 500 likely voters in late August. "He's not only quite popular, but there is an essence that he has been an effective governor."

After less than a year in office, Ritter is viewed favorably by 66 percent of voters, and unfavorably by 18 percent, according to the RBI poll.

In a separate poll to be released in a couple of weeks, independent Denver pollster and political consultant Floyd Ciruli said he found the governor's approval ratings hovering above 70 percent.

Why so popular? How about attacking problems with innovative ideas and stabilizing - if not lowering - taxes:

Bill Ritter outlined an ambitious plan Tuesday to lure new businesses to Colorado by slashing taxes, cutting red tape and concentrating on such 21st century technology as bioscience, aerospace and renewable energy.

Ritter, a Democrat, said it's time for state government to work with businesses.

Earlier this year, he clashed with organized labor when he vetoed a bill that would have made it easier to form union shops.

"As governor, I am committed to leading a state government that partners with businesses, listens to their concerns and comes up with ideas to help our businesses get ahead in this increasingly competitive global marketplace," he said.

He said his plan would help large and small businesses in both rural and urban areas.

Ritter proposed a legislative package that would cut taxes for 30,400 businesses by raising the business personal property tax exemption from $2,500 to $7,000.

It would also eliminate sales taxes on planes built in Colorado.

Ritter proposed establishing research funds of $3.5 million each for bioscience and clean energy.

Of course, Sean Paige and the Gazette will have none of it:

A few of the ideas might do some good at the margins. The rest seem like a warmed-over hash of half-measures and corporate welfare “incentives” that are more symbolic than substantive. The glowing reviews they received from some business leaders betray laughably low expectations on their part.

Sean will only be happy living in the free-market idyll of his mind. Baghdad is pretty much a survival-of-the-fittest AEI testbed, if you want a 5 rugs for $5. And we can see how well that is working out. The Denver Post disagrees with the perpetual "no" machines who love the free market:

The seven-point economic development package proposed by Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter does a lot more to cut red tape than it does to cut taxes. That's exactly as it should be.

In fact, the Ritter plan is so logical — and overdue — that Capitol Republicans were reduced to recycling their dislike of Ritter's property tax freeze to conceal the embarrassing fact that they failed to adopt the same affordable pro-business policies during the long years when they monopolized power in the statehouse.

The two most welcome reforms will eliminate the nettlesome business personal property tax for an estimated 30,400 businesses over the next five years and simplify corporate income taxes. Both reforms will reduce the heavy compliance costs businesses incur for accountants, lawyers and record keeping just to calculate what they owe the tax collectors.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Sean...

Army CoS General Casey: Iraq troop demand outpaces sustainable supply

Even the most dense of Republicans should get this:

The current demand for our forces exceeds the sustainable supply. We are consumed with meeting the demands of the current fight and are unable to provide ready forces as rapidly as necessary for other potential contingencies.

And how does the General feel about another conflict?

“I am not comfortable. We could not respond as rapidly as we would like to.”

Is he a traitor, a coward, emboldening the terrorists? No, he sounds the same as General David Petreaus - the most honorable and honest general in history - who couldn't decide whether we are safer due to our operations in Iraq.

Oh, and this two-fer will cheer you up: Bush lost bin Laden in Tora Bora again.

Who would you listen to if you were in Congress?

MoveOn style progressives or the genius consultant class?

Here's what the latter have brought us with their influence over Democratic congressional leaders and their strategies and opinions:

• War spending at about the same and probably an even higher level than a Republican Congress (if they pass that 50 Billion $190 Billion coming up it'll actually be higher).
• A FISA bill that guts the 4th amendment.
• No real procedural control over the floor, because the leadership is too scared of their own members to enforce discipline. Control over this was supposed to be the main benefit so that bad bills and amendments never even made it to general votes.
• A Congress with higher approval ratings from Republicans than Democrats or Independents. This means the R side is doing better for their people than the D side is for us.
• A refusal to use inherent contempt to enforce subpoenas, meaning we don't really have subpoena power.
• A refusal to actually make the Republicans get off their asses and physically filibuster.
• An inability to stop the Republicans from "filibustering 3 times as much as any Congress has been filibustered".

Your honor, I rest my case.

Governor Ritter has good ideas to spare

Bill Ritter is proving his competence and confidence by the day. The Democratic governor has rolled out a pro-business, high-tech plan to jumpstart Colorado's economy after years of the kind of benign neglect Republicans seem to specialize in:

After focusing most of his business agenda during his first legislative session on one industry - renewable energy - Democratic Governor Bill Ritter rolled out a 2008 plan Tuesday that spreads tax breaks and development grants into more sectors of the economy.

Ritter announced the agenda at the Anschutz Medical Campus, using the background to highlight one proposal to create a $3.5 million Bioscience and Life Science Fund to attract and retain businesses and to turn bioscience research into a commercial product. Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp. President Mike Kazmierski said he has spoken extensively with Ritter about the idea of a fund because bioscience is an emerging industry in the Pikes Peak region.

Ritter's other goals for next year include an increase in the business personal property tax exemption, a simplification of corporate income taxes and elimination of the "fly-away" tax on airplane manufacturing. The hit on Colorado's $17.8 billion budget would be minimal, with the last three proposals expected to cost the state only about $1 million combined, but the effect on Colorado's ability to compete nationally for businesses would be helped exponentially, the governor said.

Ritter made mention of his predecessor's poor record:

“We think that this is the most significant and competitive business package that Colorado has seen in over a decade,” the first-year Democratic governor said, harking back to the days before former Republican Gov. Bill Owens took office in 1999.

The anti-tax whiners are also out - as always - in the Springs:

But Representative Amy Stephens, Republican't-Monument, complained that the proposals would save businesses far less than they will pay because of Ritter’s already signed $114 million property tax freeze.

The corporate income tax proposal is an accounting trick rather than an actual tax break, and the bioscience fund is a government effort to promote an industry rather than letting the free market determine its success, Republican't Representative Bob Gardner said.

What will the Springs, and Colorado, look like if we pay zero taxes like these fools want?

Doug Lamborn, Good Christian™, votes against 60,000 Colorado kids

The vote.

Some of what Doug Lamborn voted against:

Invests $35 Billion in New Funding for SCHIP. The agreement reauthorizes the Children’s Health Insurance Program, investing an additional $35 billion over five years to strengthen SCHIP’s financing, increase health insurance coverage for low-income children, and improve the quality of health care children receive.

Lowering the rate of uninsured low-income children. The agreement will provide health coverage to millions of low-income children who are currently uninsured. The bill also ensures that the 6.6 million children who currently participate in SCHIP continue to receive health coverage, and provide new coverage for 3.8 million additional children.

Improving Access to Benefits for Children (Dental Coverage/Mental Health Parity/EPSDT). Under the agreement, quality dental coverage will be provided to all children enrolled in SCHIP. The agreement also ensures states will offer mental health services on par with medical and surgical benefits covered under CHIP, and protects medically necessary benefits (EPSDT) for low-income children.

Prioritizing children’s coverage. The agreement makes several modifications as it relates to populations eligible for CHIP.

Here's what Diana DeGette, human, said about the bill and Bush's veto threat:

“This is a victory for millions of low-income kids nationwide who lack basic health care,” said DeGette. “This bill builds upon the tremendous success of the children’s health program over the last ten years. Our reauthorization of SCHIP not only preserves coverage for 6.6 million children currently in the program, but will also provide new health care coverage for nearly 4 million additional kids nationwide. Our ultimate goal is to insure all children eligible for the program who are not currently enrolled.

“Enrolling children in the program will be more efficient because the enrollment formula targets low-income children who don’t have other options for health care. The provisions, including dental coverage, mental health parity, and coverage for pregnant women – an issue I have worked to include in SCHIP for years – will make the children’s health program strong and more comprehensive.

“President Bush holds a healthy future for over 10 million children in his hands. If he follows through on his misguided veto threat, millions of kids will be dropped from the health care rolls. The President must stand with America’s children – now is the time to compromise, not fall back on cynical political rhetoric.”

I'm sure Doug will be praised by many here who hate government and hate taxes. Will he be cheered at church this Sunday?

Pissing off James Dobson

is better than being pissed on, as they say.

Doug Lamborn is going to vote with Bush and against children on SCHIP

Cuz I called Doug's office and they said "he's concentrating on balancing the budget."

On the backs of kids.


(Graphic from Patriotboy.)

Rayburn enters Fifth race - buh-bye Dougie-boy

Colorado Statesman (.pdf) — Rev up the jets. Republican Bentley Rayburn’s ready to take off in the 5th Congressional District to challenge incumbent Rep. Doug Lamborn! Already circling is challenger Jeff Crank.

Mark your flight log. Rayburn said his launch is scheduled for Oct. 4 at the Antlers Hotel in Colorado Springs. “It will be a rally,” said Rayburn, instead of a press conference. His campaign is working on a tour of rural communities in the district for the following day. What’s more, Rayburn is in negotiations to hire Mike Hesse, former state GOP executive director and chief of staff for former Congressman Scott McInnis, as his campaign manager. Hesse recently left his Washington, D.C. post as chief of staff for a Nevada congressman and is back in Colorado.

In the six-way primary election last year, Lamborn won 27 percent of the vote, Crank 25 percent and Rayburn 17 percent after petitioning onto the ballot. Regardless of the flight plan, anything can happen. Last year, Crank emerged from the assembly with 46 percent of the vote followed by Lamborn with 40 percent.

“I’ve served 31 years in the military,” said General Rayburn. “I’m not happy with where we’re heading. I want to keep serving, and representing the citizens in the 5th Congressional District as well as the nation is serving in a fresh new way. Congress needs folks with military experience.” Topping Rayburn’s concerns are finding equitable and reasonable means to expand Fort Carson for defense training and respecting the needs of property owners in Piñon Canyon, securing a veterans cemetery in the 5th CD, and working with all entities to ensure water for the Front Range.

Rayburn also believes in the 3-L’s — lower federal budget, lower taxes and larger defense. Rayburn said the key to all issues facing the 5th CD is communication with the communities and Colorado’s congressional delegation long before bills hit the House floor. Examples of missed opportunities are bills presented by Democratic Rep. John Salazar and Sen. Ken Salazar that killed any funding for study of the Army’s request to expand Fort Carson. Lamborn was one of 35 votes against House bill. It was a rare instance of vulnerability for the 5th CD compared to coalitions built by previous Congressmen Joel Hefley, Ken Kramer and Bill Armstrong, all Republicans. El Paso County is home to five military installations which have routinely been supported by the public and Congress despite cutbacks and base closings over the past two decades.There will be a one-year interim before the study request can be reconsidered. Rayburn said this could have a negative impact because the Army needs to plan the upcoming budget and determine how to resolve these issues.

There's more claptrap at the link. Let us not forget that Rayburn wanted to open up Iraq to the word of Jesus Christ. The astounding ignorance of a United States Air Force officer even thinking that, let alone saying it, is hard to fathom. At least Doug Lamborn won't be able to say he's been blindsided on this one. The only one not yet in this race is the one who was the most qualified, most informed, and most intellegent candidate at the time: Jay Fawcett, the Democrat.

3rd BCT: Too tired to care/prepping for another 15 months in Iraq

I sure am glad our Senators had time to debate MoveOn's advertising strategies:

[They are] more numb than anything, even as they drill with precision in the mock Iraqi cities set up on the grounds of Fort Carson.

Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, are again preparing for war. Although they’re not ignorant of the politics dividing the nation, most say they’re trying to stay out of such arguments.

Some are just too tired to care.

It’s the latest emotional evolution for the 3,600-soldier brigade, which in December heads to Iraq for the third time.

In 2003, they were itching to fight. Those returning to war in late 2005 were more subdued, but still talked hopefully of ending the war so they wouldn’t have to go back again.

Now most say going back to Iraq is the right thing to do, but don’t ask them to stand up and cheer. It’s a level of resignation that Sgt. 1st Class David Gonzalez said he notices but doesn’t worry about.

Overseeing a dusty urban assault training range Thursday, Gonzalez said morale was great, but admitted that many of his comrades are getting tired.

Uh-oh, they couldn't be asked to stand up and cheer. Why does the 3rd Brigade Combat Team hate America? And will our senators please take a stand on this important issue?